Dharamsala, India
I hope this email finds you all in good health and even better spirits,
The past week has been magnificent... I reflect daily with Shanti Baba, the man who owns the guest house Tracy and I are staying in, about how the weather here is just amazing. I can count the clouds I have seen in the past week on one hand it seems. The truly breath taking aspect, however, of being here is the fact that our program of ISPs, speakers, homestays and language study is equally amazing. It seems like every turn in the road or crest in the hill provides an equally wonderful opportunity as the one before. We have had the chance to explore the Tibetan freedom movement from numerous directions, ranging from radical independent freedom fighters who hold a "by any means necessary" attitude to equally dynamic youth activists, who have dedicated their entire life to the non-violent freedom movement even though they have never set foot in their "home" country. We have learned about the environmental diversity of Tibet and the threat it is under if the Chinese continue to exploit the natural resources of the "roof top of the world." All of these issues lead us to explore what they mean to us, how we can help and what we value.
The issue of 'home" has been especially big in my mind of late. Having spent a large amount of the last three years outside of my "home" country of the US, I have thought about this frequently, but being in a community of people who can not choose to go "home" makes this topic especially prevalent.
To paraphrase what one of our speakers, Rinchen Kando-la, said: a person in exile can choose how their experience is. She emphasized that one can create a positive experience for themselves by remaining positive and watching their mind. Wow... what a statement. I frequently question my ability to exist away from my friends and family. Imagining what it must be like to not have a choice, yet remaining positive about your experience is truly inspirational. It seems like this place is filled with people who embody this expression of perseverance. For example, a former political prisoner is a baker at the Japanese restaurant next door to our guest house. He remains positive, greeting me with a smile each time I see him, even though he is away from his native land, and may never be able to return.
This idea of "home," I believe, is at the crux of the issue surrounding how we experience life. If we are able to remain open minded, not clinging to how things "should" be, experience can be OK even if life is unpleasant. it is easy for me to say this sitting in a warm internet cafe in a comfortable place like Dharamsala; I wonder if I would be able to hold this mindset if I was on my twentieth day of trekking across the Himalayas from Tibet, hoping to reach civilization soon because I am running out of food? This experience I describe is what thousands of Tibetans have had to endure to make it to a place where they would not be persecuted for being Tibetan.
It is a powerful place, Dharamsala, and I am so pleased to be experiencing it with this group of people. Seeing how much they are absorbing is wonderful and I will be sad to see us leave, although Jaipur, I am sure, will provide equal insight in a whole different range of issues.
That is all for me now. I hope you find some of this helpful in understanding what this place is like and how we are experiencing it.
Many blessings,
Justin
Dharamsala, India November 10th, 2008
Comments
Justin, you still owe me one hundred rupees!
Posted by: Doug B | November 10, 2008 4:47 PM
Well, I have some news regarding the Tibetan-Chinese dialogue, have a read.
Posted by: Doug B | November 10, 2008 4:56 PM